Ashpan and blow off muffler structure



Jan, 24, 1933. E. 1. HETscH ASHPAN AND BLOW OFF MUFFLER STRUCTURE Filed May 18. 1951 ...Z/7 Ven for' fa//wma/fc/i Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNE? STAT EDMOND I. HETSCH, OE NEVI' YORK, N. Y.

AsHrAN AND BLow Orr ivrorrniin` s'rmicruitn Application led May 18', 1931. Serial No 538,105.'

My invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in a novel locomotive ashpan and boiler blow off muiiier structure.

The boiler blow off cock on a locomotive is usually located along the irebox mud-ring in such a position as to direct the blow off steam away from the side of the engine. Steam blown off from the boiler through this cock forms a dense cloud obstructing the vision from other vehicles operating in the vicinity and also endangering persons and property near the blow ofi" cool; froinfsteam and hot water. Since frequent blowing off is desirable as it tends to maintain the boiler water free from scale and sludge, it is desirable to provide means whereby the blow off operation may safely take place at any time.

`Blow off muiflers have been devised which comprise separate units, adapted to be mounted beneath the boiler, which direct the blow oif steam onto the track under the train. This equipment7 however, requires maintenance and expense to prevent loosening of the attaching means, and, where the inuflier is attached to the ashpan, bolts or rivets must pass through the wall thereof. If these become loose, the enclosed body of ashes may beV subjected to drafts which tend to keep the coals in a state of combustion and increase the heat and consequent warping eect upon the ashpan walls.

lThe main object of my present invention is to provide a blow on muftler which will occupy a minimum amount of space, will direct the steam harmlessly onto the track beneath the train, and will not be aifected by vibration of the locomotive. l attain this general object and other detail objects in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in Awhich-- Figure 1 is a top view of my combined ashpan and blow off muffler struct-ure.

Figure 2 is a side view lof the same. Figure 3 is an end view of the-'same Figure 4l is a detail view showing a modi-`` en'd walls anda lower portion, *including a hopper which projects through the cradle (not shown) of the engine main frame and through the trailer truck frame, if present.

The upper V and lower portions may be formed separately and secured together by means of rivets 11. x

The upper portion 2 includes wheel depressions 4 above the `rear drivers 5 and aprons 6 extending outwardly from the mud-r 60 ringl 'to provide for circulation tothe grates. The lower portion 8 of the ashpan has sloping front and rear walls? andl respectivefv ly, and substantially verticalv side walls 9.

The walls of this portion'areprovided with 65 external and internal reinforcing ribsvl and 14, respectively, to strengthen the structure and assist in withstanding the warping effect of hot ashes.

- The rear Awall 15 of the hopper forms .an 70- sage 23 which occupies the rear of the lower 75 portion 8. Baide plates 26 extend between the wallsl 8 and 15 and serve to break the direct passage of steam. through the muiler. Openings 18 arefprovidedinwall .8for attachment with hose connections19,iwhich at their upper ends, lead fromthe blow off cocks 20. RodsA 21, havinghandles 22 on their upper ends, project up through the'floorof the engine cab for manual operation of the blow o'f valves. Passages 17 depend beneath the 85 bottom 16 of Amuffler passage 23 and open rearwardly thereof so as to direct the blow off steam beneath the train. .The bottoms V.of these outlet passages mergewith the lower edge of hopper wall 1.5V and grooved elements Y 25 are provided to carry the hopper door(not shown).y f ,Where the engine has'a trailer truck which Y may or may not be equipped with a booster',

extension pipes maybe attached to the outlet passages to direct the blow off awayfrom the booster and trailer axles.V In Figure 4,1 outlet passages 24 are provided with bolting collars for attachment of extensionpipes.`

In other respects, the structure on ,this modi!l 109 required for other'equipment.

fication is the same as that scribed. Y

`My Combined blow off mufiier and ashpan y device providesa compact structure in which 5 the .size of the hopper is not decreased and at the same time the exhaust device does not project unduly from the ashpan' into space The ash retaining walls are imperforate webs of cast metal which are well adapted to resist the warping effect of the hot ashes aswell as load previously y destresses, and any possibility of the enclosed ashes being exposed to'drafts is obviated.

e Obviously, my invention is not limited t0- the exact forms which I have illustrated and described, butvarious modifications as to details of structure, locationffof the parts, etc. may bezmade without departing from the Y spirit of the invention and I contemplate the 20 come within the scope of my claims.'

- l. As a new article ofmanufacture, a locomotive integral ashpan structureincludng a hopper portion having imperforate dependingwal'ls, a portion cooperating vwith one4 of said walls to form aldownwardly disposed blowoff muifier cond-uit, said cond-uit having `an opening for connection with a blow off cock and an opening at the bottom for disexclusive use ofallv such variationswhich side andV end walls, one of said walls being' offset outwardly from kthe corresponding wall of said upper part, a partition adjacent said offset wall forming an exhaust conduit therewith having an outlet openingat the bottom, and bafIie elements in said conduit. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 5th day of May, 1931.

' EDMOND I. HETSCH.

charging thev exhaust from said conduit, and

baffle plates in said conduit disposedto break the force of steam passing therethrough. 2. As a new article of manufacture, an in- ?5 ytegral locomotive ashpan structurev having depending side and end walls and includingv a hopper part and a blow off muffler part, and ba-fiiel elements in said muffler parts, the side. walls of Vsaid parts beingk continuous and there. being a reinforcing rib extending around said structure. 4

8. In a` locomotive, an ashpan having-f side,

front,` and rear walls, and having a ,baffle platefona blow offmufiier integral with one of said walls. Y]

4e. As vanew article of manufacture, a loco'-r` motive ash pan integral' -structureincluding a hopper, having imperforate depending walls, a partition adjacent one of said walls forming a blow off conduit therewith, and baffle plates within said conduit for breaking the direct passage of exhaust therethrough.

5. In a. locomotive ashpan', an upperl por` A 4 tionadap'ted to besecured to the firebox, and

55- a lower portioncomprising an integral hopper structure havingY imperforate` depending Walls, one ofesaid walls being bifurcated to form opposite walls ofv a steam conduit havmgan inlet opening for connection with a 64I2 blow off cock` and an outlet `opening at ther bottom; for discharging Ysteam and water tov thetrack andv away'from said structure. Y

r6.3jIn' arlocomotive ashpan'r structure7 an Aupper-part for attachment to the-fireboxf andl 65k' an'vintegral hoppen part havingimper-forateiA ilo 

